The pro-hunting/anti-hunting controversy is a national issue that reaches from California to New York to Florida. Hunters defend their activity while anti-hunters vehemently condemn it. This book presents arguments from both groups and will help to broaden the perspective of each side. This book will be useful to students and scholars of environmental ethics. Contents: The Case for Hunting; The Case Against Hunting; Leopold's Ethics of Hunting; Political and Religious Factors of Hunting; Responsibility, Challenge and the Future.

August 1781 saw the publication of a manual on fox hunting that would become a classic of its genre. Hugely popular in its own day, Peter Beckford's Thoughts on Hunting is often cited as marking the birth of modern hunting and continues to be quoted from affectionately today by the hunting fraternity. Less stressed is the fact that its subject was immediately controversial, and that a hostile review which appeared on the heels of the manual's publication raised two criticisms of fox hunting that would be repeated over the next two centuries: fox hunting was a cruel sport and a feudal, anachronistic one at that. This study explores the attacks made on fox hunting from 1781 to the legal ban achieved in 2004, as well as assessing the reasons for its continued appeal and post-ban survival. Chapters cover debates in the areas of: class and hunting; concerns over cruelty and animal welfare; party politics; the hunt in literature; and nostalgia. By adopting a thematic approach, the author is able to draw out the wider social and cultural implications of the debates, and to explore what they tell us about national identity, social mores and social relations in modern Britain.

Joel Barber spent 20 years studying and collecting wild fowl decoys from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. Mr. Barber's authoratative volume is the only text written for the true collector and contains all there is to be known on the subject: how to recognize the locality from which a decoy comes, the world of famous decoy makers, the scarcity of certain types of decoys and more.

In medieval Europe, falconry was perhaps the most popular form of hunting among the aristocracy. Owning a falcon, and the necessary falconer to go with it, was a status symbol throughout the middle ages. This book is the first broad history of English royal falconry in medieval times, a book that draws on forty years of research to provide a full description of the actual practice and conditions of the sport and of the role of falconers in the English royal household.

Robin S. Oggins begins with a description of the birds of prey, their training, and the sport of falconry. He provides a short history of early falconry in western Europe and England, then explores in unprecedented detail royal falconry from the reign of William I to the death of Edward I in 1307. The author concludes with an overview of the place and importance of falconry in medieval life.

Richard Jefferies is famous for his tales of country life. The Gamekeeper At Home is probably his best known work, truly reflecting those by-gone days when the Gamekeeper was a vital part of rural activities. He discusses the man himself and how he fits into the community and examines his relations with his family. His area of activity is covered - the fields, the woods, the meadows and the ponds and streams. The world around him needs protection from the predators that kill the game and disturb the balance of nature. There is contact with his dogs and other animals such as rabbits and deer as well as the traditional enemies such as the fox. All parts are brought together so the reader can sense the activity of the countryside and the efforts to keep its integral parts operating in harmony. This understanding is enhanced by the masterly drawings by Charles Whymper. List of Chapters: I. THE MAN HIMSELF - HIS HOUSE, AND TOOLS II. HIS FAMILY AND CASTE III. IN THE FIELDS IV. HIS DOMINIONS: - THE WOODS - MEADOWS - AND WATER V. SOME OF HIS SUBJECTS: DOGS, RABBITS, MICE AND SUCH SMALL DEER VI. HIS ENEMIES BIRDS AND BEAASTS OF PREY - TRESPASSERS VII. PROFESSIONAL POACHERS - THE ART OF WIRING GAME VIII. THE FIELD DETECTIVE - FISH POACHING IX. GUERILLA WARFARE - GUN ACCIDENTS - BLACK SHEEP

For many hundreds of years Kazakh nomads have been grazing their livestock near the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia. The Altai Kazakhs are unique in their tradition of using golden eagles to hunt on horseback. The lifestyle of these hunters, known in Kazakh as burtkitshis, is changing rapidly, and over the last few years the award-winning photographer Palani Mohan has spent time with these men and their families, documenting a culture under threat. The special bond between a hunter and his eagle begins when the hunter takes an eagle pup from a nest high on the rock face. The pups are usually about four years old (a golden eagle can live to 30 years of age). It's important that the pup has learned to hunt and is not still dependent on her mother; but neither can she be too old nor experienced, or she will not learn to live with humans. The hunters take only female pups from the nest, as females are larger and more powerful and aggressive than the males. Adult female golden eagles can have a wingspan of up to 9 feet, and weigh over 15 pounds. The eagle pup gradually learns to accept food from the hunter, and once trust has been established, the hunter begins to train the bird. The hunters describe the eagle as part of their family. The eagle takes pride of place in the home most of the time except during the day in the summer months or the warmest part of the day in the winter months. While all the men in the family handle the eagle, only the man who took her from the nest hunts with her. Hunting takes place in winter, when temperatures can plummet to minus 40 degrees Farenheit. The birds are carried in swaddling, which the hunters claim keeps them both warm and calm. The strong bond between hunter and eagle is strengthened by the amount of time they spend together. Hunting trips can last many days, as the hunter and eagle trek up to a mountain ridge to obtain a good view across the landscape. Once the prey - usually a fox - is spotted, the hunter charges towards it to flush it into the open, then releases the eagle to make the kill. Hunters traditionally wear fur coats made from the skins of the prey their eagle has caught. The relationship between hunter and eagle typically lasts six to eight years, then the eagle is released back into the wild to breed. One hunter tells Mohan: 'You love them as your own, even when you set them free at the end.' In his book, which comprises an introductory essay and 90 dramatic duotone images, Mohan explains how the burkitshis are slowing dying out. Rather than endure the brutal winters, their children choose to move to the capital, Ulan Bator, for a better way of life. There are also fewer golden eagles in the Altai Mountains. Although the 'Golden Eagle Festival' takes place every October to showcase the ancient art of hunting with eagles, attracting tourists from across the world, there are only between 50 and 60 'true' hunters left. This book is therefore a timely, important record of these proud men and their magnificent eagles in a remote, unforgiving part of the planet.

How to Take Monster Bucks will reveal the secret strategies of men who consistently bag older age-class deer each season. There is a price to pay to be the best at any sport, and trophy deer hunting is no different. But this book will save you thousands of hunting hours in your pursuit of monster bucks. Special Features *Cackle to monster bucks *Double-call trophy deer *Find big bucks in cattle country *Take the smartest bucks on the land you hunt *Hunt late-season trophies *Find wall-hanging bucks on your kitchen table For more than three decades, John E. Phillips has hunted white-tailed deer across the nation. He has gathered information for his newspaper columns and magazine articles on the out-of-doors for the past 20 years. The award-winning author of 18 books, Phillips has made his living learning the secrets of how expert hunters take white-tailed deer.

Lord Purdey was shaking with anger. 'Bring back the lynx? Over my dead body!' The environmental protestors murmured, and Rory stepped forward. 'Your hunting has destroyed our hills and left them treeless wastes, devoid of wildlife. It's time that changed.' 'Listen, you lentil-eating cat lover,' Purdey barked through the megaphone, 'men like me own Scotland. If we want to kill anything that moves and turn the whole damn place into a theme park, we'll do it.' Someone from the group of protestors hurled a turnip. It struck Purdey and he crumpled to the ground. Just as the archaic class system he represents must eventually fall, Angus thought with a grin. In his first two bestselling books, The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, John D. Burns invited readers to join him in the hills and wild places of Scotland. In Sky Dance, he returns to that world to ask fundamental questions about how we relate to this northern landscape - while raising a laugh or two along the way. Anyone who has gazed at the majesty of the Scottish mountains will know this place and want to return to it. Now, as wild land is threatened like never before, it's time we asked ourselves what kind of future we want for the Highlands.

Bobwhites in the Texas panhandle, prairie grouse in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Gambel's quail in New Mexico's arroyos, blue quail on the staked plains, and doves and Mearn's quail in Arizona. In these lyrical essays, Henry Chappell examines the bonds that exist between hunter, hunting dog, land, and prey. At Home on the Range with a Texas Hunter evokes a powerful sense of history and place and never shies from the responsibilities and ethical struggles every hunter faces.

Gathered here are many of the finest contemporary sporting writers: George Bird Evans, Charles Waterman, Gene Hill, Michael Mcintosh, Jim Fergus, and many others. Each offers a story of his singular relationship with the dog (or dogs) that shaped his life.

This title details Raif Mair's experiences with fly fishing.

Few people hunting today are really aware of the history of their sport. This concise book shows how this much misunderstood sport has survived and flourished through the centuries of change, to the benefit of the fox and its environment.

"This is a simple, plain-talking, commonsense, and no-nonsense book on hunting the Whitetail," begins How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life. It's the legendary classic that started instructional hunting literature as we know it, and it's in print again. Larry Benoit had spent decades tracking and taking deer in the mountains of northern Vermont before he set down the first word about hunting, and the result was an instant classic. He was a tracker in the old sense of the word, a smart hunter who worked hard for his trophies. He didn't sit on stumps, waiting for a deer to wander by, and he didn't cruise back roads in a car: He hunted. In How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life, he shows how. Chapters include getting fit for the chase, learning to read tracks, advice on clothing and equipment, how to handle a rifle, and how to field dress and butcher your buck. Interspersed are anecdotes from his long career, including the saga of a 13-day pursuit of a savvy, 230-pound buck with 25-inch antlers. It's a book for the hunter just learning to love the woods, and it's a book for the old hand who wants to spend some time with one of the most experienced hunters ever to walk the northern forests. It's one of the gems of hunting literature.

The most exciting time of year for any waterfowler is when summer begins to wane and autumn slowly edges in. The anticipation for the upcoming season is almost too much to bear. Big December Canvasbacks is a celebration of waterfowl and the scenic places they inhabit. It is also a candid look into what motivates the waterfowler to pursue these beautiful animals. With illustrations by noted sporting artist Dave Hagerbaumer, Big December Canvasbacks should be required reading for any waterfowler.

Originally published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1930, The Wilderness of Denali is a memoir of three years of hunting the area of Alaska surrounding Mt. McKinley. It is a classic of American adventure a book written by a man who was willing to risk his life in pursuit of grizzly bears and the elusive mountain sheep. The account was written each night by campfire as Sheldon discovered what is still regarded as the most scenic wilderness in America.

Timeless information in an easy-to-use format with a new foreword added Popular and little-known methods explained Includes useful weights and measures charts This practical and precise guide to the chemical and heat coloring of all barrel steels and gun metals covers the earliest soft carbon methods to the latest rustless techniques--some 230 formulae in all. Also included are ways to remove rust, barrel finishes, and nickel plating by chemical means. It's a classic, comprehensive reference of interest to professional and amateur gunsmiths, restorers, collectors, and shooters alike."

The Perfect Shot: Mini Edition for Africa II has been completely revised and expanded! This handy pocket-size guide has been a perennial customer favorite ever since it was first published in 2003. Take this mini reference afield as you hunt elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, Nile crocodile, spotted hyena, giraffe, eland, greater kudu, zebra, sable, roan, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, bongo, oryx/gemsbok, hartebeest, black wildebeest, nyala, reedbuck, blesbok/bontebok, impala, bushbuck, springbok, warthog, duiker, klipspringer, steenbok, and grysbok. As in the big book, the mini edition features animal tracks as well as ghost views of vital areas and point of aim for each animal. A brief essay on natural history, trophy assessment, and subspecies is included. In addition, the updated tables in the back list the minimum requirements for inclusion in the Rowland Ward and SCI record books. While nothing can replace the "big" book, this is a super handy item to throw in your backpack or place in your pocket for your next safari. Don't forget to stick a mini guide in your pocket when afield so you'll know just where to place that "perfect shot"! This expanded and updated version is now 160 pages in length-32 more pages than the original Mini Perfect Shot.

Pointing Dogs departs from traditional training guides by treating dogs as individuals with different temperaments who need to be trained according to the individual needs of their owners. This book covers not only field-training fundamentals, but the ten lessons our dogs try to teach us: how to personalize the training to fit the needs of both hunter and dog; how bloodlines, training, and experience combine to form the complete bird dog; insights into a dog's scenting abilities; proper care of a bird dog; and how to live with your dog the other ten months of the year.

THE EXPLOSIVE NEW YORK TIMES AND NATIONAL BESTSELLER Push beyond your physical limits to improve yourself by following bowhunter and ultramarathoner Cameron Hanes's lifelong philosophies and disciplines. "It's all mental." I say this all the time, and it's true. If you believe you can do it, you can. We all have virtually limitless potential. Our bodies are capable of so much more than what we ask of them. Take off the mental handcuffs, get out there, and start on your way today. What is your passion? You can become better at it. Committing yourself to fitness only fuels your beliefs. You gotta believe to achieve. Cameron Hanes discovered his true passion for bowhunting when he was twenty. Inspired by the physical challenges of stalking elk in the Oregon wilderness--traversing mountainous terrain, braving erratic weather, and evading his quarry's even more dangerous predators--he began an ever-evolving journey of self-improvement. To become the best bowhunter of wild elk, to the caliber he believed he could be, Cam realized he would need more than archery skills. He would need the stamina and strength that could only come from an athletic training regimen of long-distance running and heavy-weight lifting. And every day for more than thirty years, Cam has put in the work, building miles and muscles, pushing through pain with a single-minded focus on the only goal worth having--besting himself time and again. Part memoir, part motivational manifesto, Endure reveals how Cam--a self-professed average guy--put himself through the paces to live the life of an expert bowhunter, respected writer, and family man. With discipline, sacrifice, resilience, a hard work ethic, and a belief in his own capabilities, Cam not only accomplished his dreams but continues to surpass them. There is no secret to his success except relentless determination and loyal dedication to his own self-worth. If Cam can do it, we all can. Everyone has what it takes to endure adversity so we can rise above average, be the best we can be, and enjoy living life to the fullest.

Now in paperback Effective training techniques for bird dogs, retrievers, and flushers Photos illustrate techniques and equipment

Veteran trainer and hunter Bill Tarrant goes beyond simple gun dog training and teaches handlers how to correct flaws in a dog's behavior in the field. He first explains how to "read" a dog--how to identify faults such as hard mouth and gun shyness--and then prescribes solutions for problems specific to each of the three major classifications of gun dogs--bird dogs, retrievers, and flushers.

An interdisciplinary social history, this book examines the major pressures and influences that brought about the remarkable growth of opposition to hunting in twentieth century England. With public opinion consistently deciding from the middle of the century onward that hunting mammals for sport was cruel and unacceptable, it would appear that the controversy over hunting has all but been decided, though hunting yet remains 'at bay'. Based on a range of cultural, social, literary and political sources drawn from a variety of academic disciplines, including history, sociology, geography, psychology and anthropology, The History of Opposition to Blood Sports in Twentieth Century England accounts for the change in our relationship with animals that occurred in the course of the twentieth century, shedding light on the manner in which this resulted in the growth in opposition to hunting and other blood sports. With evidence comprising a mixture of primary and secondary historical sources, together with documentary films, opinion polls, Mass Observation records, political party archives, and the findings of sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists and geographers, this book will appeal to scholars and students across the social sciences and historians with an interest in human-animal relations.

First published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Easy-to-understand instruction for traditional archery Covers both target shooting and bowhunting Includes the author's exclusive tiered training program for instinctive shooting with in-depth advice on selecting bows, arrows, and accessories

The popularity of traditional archery has exploded in recent years, and this handy, readable guide serves as the perfect introduction for anyone looking to break into the sport. From selecting arrow shafts to refining your form to entering your first tournament, it explains in straightforward, no-nonsense prose how to get started. Whether you've never shot an arrow or are making the move from compound bows, you're certain to benefit from the author's time-tested training program for instinctive shooting, which develops a foundation of shooting skill through repetition.

This book recovers the multiplicity of meanings embedded in colonial hunting and the power it symbolized by examining both the incorporation and representation of British women hunters in the sport and how African people leveraged British hunters' dependence on their labor and knowledge to direct the impact and experience of hunting.